Electric lamp-socket.



R. B. BENJAMIN. ELECTRIC LAMP SOCKET. APPLIOATIOH FILED FEB. 17, 1908.

981,242. l l Patented Jan. 1o, 1911.

2 SHEETS-.SHEET 14 R. B. BEEJAMIN.'

ELECTRIC LAMP SOCKET. v APPLIGATIGH FILED im. 1908.

981,242. v Panama Jan.10,1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

yis

unirsi) s'rarns PATENT cerros.

EEUBEN B. BENJAMIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR 'IO BENJAMIN ELECTRICMANUFACTURING COMPANY, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC-LAMP SOCKET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

vPatented Jan'. 1o, 1911.

Appiicaiior. and February 17,1903. seriai Na. 416,340. p

To all whom 'it may sonori-n:V

Be it known that I, Rennen B. BENJA- Mus, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State ofIllinois, havev invented new and useful Improvements in Electric-LumpSockets. of which the following is :i full, clear, concise, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming :ipart of this specification.

My invention relates to elect ric-lamp sock ets, and has for its objectun improvement inthe structure of such sockets, whereby a series oflamps may he arranged in a row with pipe-connections between theadjacent sides of the sockets, so that all of the wiringr will beexcluded from View by being housed in said connections. l accomplishthis by providing the casing of the socket with lateral hollowextensions through which the supplywires p ass, and whereby it is supvported. The insulating base that carries the lampengaging contacts hasthe binding screws ocated in channels across the top leading from oneextension to-the, other when the base is in position on 'the casing. Inthis way the supply wires are led across the casing through thechannels`v thus making the connection between the binding screws and thewires :i simple, easy matter. Furthermore, I provide a cup or cover forthe casing, so shaped as to be firmly sented upon the casing and lockedthereto preferably without the necessity of rotation.

Referring to the drawings: Figure l shows an arrangement of linups, asin :i show-case, made possible by the use. of my improved socket; Fig. 2is a arily erosssectional view on line 2,-2 of I* ig. 3; Fig. 3 is a topView of the socket with the cap rerum-'odg Fig. 4 is a sectional viewtaken on line 4 4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is aview, partly in section, of mysocket having a modified form of capwhereby the socket. may be directlysecured to a support, such as a wall or 'ceiling; Fig. 6 is afragmentary detail view showing a preferred form of locking device onthe socket for securing the cap thereto.

The shell-contact 1 is secured to the base 2 of suitable instituting'material (as porcelain for instance) by means of the screw 3 passingthrough the opening 3 in the. base. ofthe screw rests in the circularrecess 4. A screw 5 passes through the opening 6 in the opposite side ofthe base, engaging at The headA one'cnd the shcll-contact 1 and at itsother end 'the conducting strip T. slotted recess S in the central ridget) permits engagement of :he strip 'i' with the screw 5, as shown inFig. 3. A bent plate l0 of metal passes through the slot 11 and is heldin place. by the central screw 12 extending from the re,- cess 13through the opening 14, and engaging the transverse portion 15 of theplate l0. This transverse portion l5 fornis the center contact of thesocket. A pair of binding screws 1G and 1T are located in the channels18, and connected, respectively, with the free end of the strip T, andwith the transverse ortion l5 of the plate 10. In other words, Bindingscrew 16 is electrically connected with shell-contact l, whilebinding.,r screw 17 is electrically connected with center contact 15.

I provide a casing 19 for the base, an insulating sleeve 20 beinginterposed to pre-` The casing is furnished with u pair of late eralextensions, .whereby it assumes what might be termed a T-shaped form. Inthe instance illustrated, these extensions consist of a pair of bushingssecured in cach of the openings 2". For convenience of design andmanufacture Iprefer to make the openings in the rectangular shoulders orprojections 23', althoiwh this is by no means essential. The husiingsare shown as interiorly screw-threaded at 24, so that a pipe or conduit24' may be screwed therein for supporting the socket. However, any;method may be resorted. to for ellecting 'proper connection between theextensions and the pipes. Rotation of the pipes in t'- e bushings may heprevented b v set-screws Also, rotation of the base in the socket n. frbe obviated in any suitable way, as, or .a stance, b providing on thebase a laiteial lug 25 w ich is held between :i pair of in wardly bentprojections 26 struck up on th casing. The supply wires 26 und 2T cntcrthrough one of the hollow extensions and are led out through the other.It will be observed that n pair of channels 18 cross the top of thebase, so arranged that when the base is in position in the casing thesechannels lead from one of the extensions to the other; whereby thesupply wires are accomnceted to the 'hinding serens iti and 1T situatedin the channels` as ahore deserihed.

In Fig. 1 I have illustrated an arrange- .m'ent ol lamps suspended tronimy novel -forin of socket. v(lne end ot a pipe 2S 1s set'ured to asupport S29 on the wall 330 tor, yit nngrht he the side ol" :i show-easeor displaywmdtnv). while the. other end of the vpipe is secured in theadjacent extension :'22

of the socket. The other extension ot' the easing` is connected hy meansof a second pipe 2S with the adjacent extension ot' the nextsof^.l{et,-aud so on tintil a sutlieient.

number of soelt'ets has thus heen linlt'ed together by direct rigidconnections between adjacent extensions ot' eonseentive soeltets. Thelast of the sockets in the series is, of

course, secured to the opposite wall hy means of a pipe. As anadditional support 1 'socket exposed wires are oliriated, whereby anappearance of pleasing neatness is iinparted tothe fixture, in additionto its firmness and stability. It isof course. evident that; variousother arrangen'ientii of lamps ie may be eti'eeted with my new soeket,-t

illustration in Fig. i lit-ing given merely as an example. Thus. forinstance: the sockets might be Connected together in rectangularoutline, inwhich ease. the corner soehets vwould have then' extensionsnot. oppositely (lispised but at an angle ot' 90". The ehannels on thehase would. naturally, he modified aeeordingly. l would therefore haveit understood that sue-li a modified form of socket, that is. one withits extensions at. 90, is eontprehended in certain of the appendedclaims. j The to of the easing is covered with a zap 34. n order thatthis cap ma)vv properly lie plaeed upon the easing, l provide it witheutlaway portions 3.', in alinenient with the hollow extensions andfitting' snugly over the shoulders .ll'. Although l have shown the canas terniinatin;r about naif-way on the et-'iiudrieal enlargement- 35' ofthe easingr. it is elear that thisprecise arrangement is puit-ly unialtt-iA of design, and that the eap might as well extend a lesserdistante-e over the casing,'or completely enihraee the sides of the.shoulders 'i'. ln either ease, the eap ould encircle. the easing in :1plane. intersecting the (extensions.

Any desired forni of loeking,r scheine may he rey'irted to for seein-ingthe eap and easin; lr together. Fig. 6 shows in perspective a loehiihgrdevice. The siring tongues 3G, strnrk up from the easmp upon oppositesides thereof hy punching, are provided -tion. with a easing providedwith lateral holl niodated in said channels. and readily eonf withslightlbv turned-np eorners 37. The cap has a hollow bead 2th at itsopening, so that when the rap is t'oi'eed down upon the ing theturned-up eiirners 3T will sprintf into the hollow of the. head, asshown iu lig. 4, thus preventing \i'ithdra'.\'a1 of the cap. T0 remorethe saine, it is only neeessary to press against the lingei-pieees 39 onthe tongues litt, whereby the projecting corners` 3T are withdrawnt'ronilhe hollow of the head. If 75 desired, the eut-away portions 35 onthe cap may he made of sttllieient width to perintt substantial rotationof the cap on the easing. so that a lot-king eontrivanee in the form :ifa bayonet-slot might be used. [Iowever, I prefer to use a loelringarrangement iihereby the parts may he secured together h y a directthrust. In this way I can make the eut-away portions 3:3 tit snugly overthe` shoulders of the hollow extensions, thus giv- B5 ing an appearaneeof neatness and empactness to the structure. Also, I may use a tillingpieee. i0 t3 cover u the space formed by the shoulders Q5 an lettexposed hy the Cap, asshown in Fig.' 2. 90

Although I have shown the top of the cap as dome-shaped, any suitablecontour may be diven it. In certain instances it mieht be t esirable to)rovide the cap with a at top, as indicatedl socket might he direetl)rsecured to a support, such as a ceiling, by means of a screw 4i passingthrough the cap into the support.

llaving thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters lPatent, is-

1. An electric lamp socket comprising a easing provided with a pair ofinterni hollow extensions throu'fh which the supply wires may pass, ahase, lamp-engaging eontat-ts earried then-hy, said hase havmf a pair ofehannelson its upper side extent` ing from one of .said hollowextensions to the other, a binding terminal in each of said channelselectrically connected with one of said lamp-engaging contacts, and acap normaily covering; lsaid channels' and made removable t'o exposesaid binding terminals.

ln auelet-trielanip sorket,theeotnbination with a -asiingr provided withlateral hollow extensionsx through which the supply wires pass, ot' aeap for the top of said 'ae-:- iiig, having eut-away portions inalinement with said extensions to )eimit the cap to eneirele the easingin a. plane intersecting the extensions, and eoiperating means 0n sailcap and easing for lof-king the parts together.

3. In an eleetriclamp socket., the combinalow extensions through whichthe stip ily wires pass, of a cap for the top of said casing havingcutaway portionsA in alinement with said extensions to permit. the eapto encircle t e easing in a plane intersecting the exten- 130 in Fig. 5,in order that the 95 i Y l n i i i l and casing for low extensionsthrough which-the supply sions, said cut-away portions fitting snuglyover said extensions whereby substantial rotation of the cap on theeasing is prevented, and spring-means for locking-the cap to the casingwhen the cap thrust down over the casing.

4. In an elcctricdaniprsocket, the combination 'with ay .asiug providedwith lateral hollow extensions through which the supply wires pass, of acap for tho top ot said casing having ent-away portions in alineinentwith said extensions to ierniit the cap to eucircle, the casing in apiane intersecting the extensions, cooperating means on saideap andcasing for locking the parts together, a base in said casi11g,shell undcenter contacts carried liv said base, and a pair of binding screws ontheitop of the base for connecting said contacts with the supply wires.l t

5. In an electric-lmnp socket, the combination with a casing providedwith lateral hollow extensions through which the supply wires pass` of acap for the top of said casing having cut-away portions in alinementwith said extensions to pei-init the cap to encircle the casing in aplane intersecting the extensions, eotierating means on said capllocking the parts together, a. base in said easing having channelsacross the'top thereof leading from one extension to the other, shelland center contacts carried by saidbase, and a pair of binding screws inslid channels for connecting said contacts with the supply Wires.

6. In an electric-lamp socket, the combination with a casingprovidedwith lateralholwires pass, of a cap for the top of said casinghaving cnt-away portions in alinement with said extensions to permit thecap to encircle the casing in a piane intersecting the1 extensions, saideut-away portions fitting snugly over said extensions wherebysubstantial rotation of the cap on the casing is prerentefli.spring-means for vlocking the cap to the casing when the ca'p is thrustdown over the casing, a base in said casing, shell and center contactscarried by said hase. and a pair of binding screws'on the top of thebase for connecting said contacts with the sa ply wires.

i?. In an electric-lamp socket, the combination witha casing providedwith lateral hollow extensions through which the supply wires pass, ofa. cap for the top o said casing having cutaway portions in alineinentwith said extensions to permit the cap to eneircle'the. casing in aplane intersecting the extensions, said cnt-away portions fitting snuglyover said extensions whereby substantial rotation of the cap on thecasing is prevented, spring-means for locking the cap to the'casing whenthe cap is thrust down over the easing, a Ahase in said casing havingchannels across the top thereof leading from .one extension to theother, shell and center contacts carried by said hase, and a pair ofbinding screws in said channels for connecting said contacts'witli thesupply Wires.

8. An electric-lamp socket7 comprising a casing provided with lateralopenings, a bushing secured in each openinv whereby the supply wires.may enter tie casing through one bushing and pass ont-through theother, a base in said casing, shell and center contacts carried by saidbase, a pair of binding screws onthe t'op of the base for connectingsaid contacts with the supptv wires, a cap `iior the top of said casinghaving cutaway portions in Valinenient with said bushings' to permit'thecap to encircle the casing in a plane. intersecting the bushings, andc0- operating means on said cap and casing for locking the partstogether.

9. An electric-lamp socket. comprising a casing 'provided with lateralopenings, a bushing secured in each opening wherebythe supply wires mayenter the casing through one bushing and pass outl through theother, abase in said casing haring channels in the top thereof leading from oneof said lateral openings to the other. shell and center contacts carriedby'said hase, a pair of binding screws on top ot the base for connectingthe contacts with thel supply Wires, a cap for the to of said casinhaving cut-awav )ortions in alinenient with said bushings to permit'-vthe cap 'to'eneircle the casing in a plane intersecting the bushings.and coperating means on said cap and casing for locking the partstogether.

,Tn witness whereof, I'have hereunto subscribed my name in the presenceof two witnesses. r

REUBEN Bt BENJAMN.

' li-Titnesscs:

Anrmjn Il. Bom'rcnnn,

L. HorniNs.

